Chromium is considered as an essential trace element, important in carbohydrates, lipids and in protein metabolism because, when it is deficient, it could lead to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance (1).

Over one-half the adult US population consumes nutritional supplements, and over one-quarter consumes supplemental chromium. The odds of having type 2 diabetes were lower in those who, in the previous 30 d, had consumed supplements containing chromium. Given the magnitude of exposure, studies on safety and efficacy are warranted (2).

Hexavalent chromium residues from industrial production are considered toxic (2).

Chromium supplement studies

References________________________________________________________________________

(1)  William T. Cefalu  Audrey D. Bell‐Farrow  Jane Stegner  Zhong Q. Wang  Telle King  Tim Morgan  James G.   Effect of chromium tripicolinate on insulin sensitivity in vivo.  https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-670X(1999)12:2<71::AID-JTRA4>3.0.CO;2-8

(2) McIver DJ, Grizales AM, Brownstein JS, Goldfine AB. Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Is Lower in US Adults Taking Chromium-Containing Supplements. J Nutr. 2015 Dec;145(12):2675-82. doi: 10.3945/jn.115.214569. 

Chromium as a food supplement

Pros

Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular anomalies and is a major health problem approaching global epidemic proportions. Insulin resistance, a prediabetic condition, precedes the onset of frank type 2 diabetes and offers potential avenues for early intervention to treat the disease. Although lifestyle modifications and exercise can reduce the incidence of diabetes, compliance has proved to be difficult, warranting pharmacological interventions. However, most of the currently available drugs that improve insulin sensitivity have adverse effects. Therefore, attractive strategies to alleviate insulin resistance include dietary supplements. One such supplement is chromium, which has been shown to reduce insulin resistance in some, but not all, studies. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms of chromium in alleviating insulin resistance remain elusive. This review examines emerging reports on the effect of chromium, as well as molecular and cellular mechanisms by which chromium may provide beneficial effects in alleviating insulin resistance (1).

Cons

In vitro studies indicate a mutagenic potential of trivalent chromium, with genotoxic properties at extremely high doses. However, these effects have not been confirmed in vivo (2).

There are reports of serious adverse events, including renal failure (3), but the causality is unclear and the events that occurred were presumably due to high doses of chromium (4).

Due to the still unexplained mechanism of the genotoxic action and incomplete knowledge about the transformation of chromium in the body, further research is needed, especially due to the growing popularity of chromium  compounds and their consumption in the form of dietary supplements and doubts as to the safety of its use, as well as environmental exposure to chromium (5).

Other studies

Chromium Supplementation in Human Health, Metabolic Syndrome, and Diabetes.  Maret W.  Met Ions Life Sci. 2019 Jan 14;19. pii: /books/9783110527872/9783110527872-015/9783110527872-015.xml. doi: 10.1515/9783110527872-015.

Biological significance of chromium III for the human organism  Piotrowska A, Pilch W, Tota Ł, Nowak G  Med Pr. 2018 Mar 9;69(2):211-223. doi: 10.13075/mp.5893.00625.

References___________________________________________

(1) Molecular Mechanisms of Chromium in Alleviating Insulin Resistance
Yinan Hua, Suzanne Clark, Jun Ren, Nair Sreejayan
J Nutr Biochem. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2013 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Nutr Biochem. 2012 Apr; 23(4): 313–319. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2011.11.001

(2) Berner TO, Murphy MM, Slesinski R. Determining the safety of chromium tripicolinate for addition to foods as a nutrient supplement. Food Chem Toxicol 2004;42:1029–42

(3) Wasser WG, Feldman NS, D’Agati VD. Chronic renal failure after ingestion of over-the-counter chromium picolinate. Ann Intern Med 1997;126:410

(4) Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Is Lower in US Adults Taking Chromium-Containing Supplements
David J McIver, Ana Maria Grizales, John S Brownstein, Allison B Goldfine
J Nutr. 2015 Dec; 145(12): 2675–2682. Published online 2015 Oct 7. doi: 10.3945/jn.115.214569

(5) Sawicka E, Jurkowska K, Piwowar A. Chromium (III) and chromium (VI) as important players in the induction of genotoxicity - current view. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2021 Mar 18;28(1):1-10. doi: 10.26444/aaem/118228